And his two young daughters live in Melbourne – with his ex-partner – which means Brimmer only sees them a few times across the year.
It meant there was a lot to weigh up when he made the decision to sign for Auckland FC and it has felt even harder during this second season.
“Obviously, you have to sacrifice – you only get a certain amount of years playing football,” said Brimmer. “So it was a sacrifice I was willing to make to leave my dad who was quite ill and my two beautiful daughters. I have a dream and unfortunately that was a sacrifice I had to make and every day, every session, every game, I try and do my best for them.”
His father tries to come over “as much as he can, although it’s quite difficult”. Brimmers sees his daughters – Hayzel and Evalyn – for a period during school holidays and when Auckland FC have matches in Melbourne, where he is often able to stay on for an extra day or two. He has been appreciative of the club’s empathetic approach.
“They’ve been immense,” said Brimmer. ”Every opportunity I can get to go back to Melbourne, they allow it“, adding that manager Steve Corica had given him time off for his grandfather’s funeral.
Jake Brimmer has been under the radar this year. Photo / Photosport
For his part, Corica said they are trying to support Brimmer as much as possible.
“It must be difficult for him, he has got a lot going on in the background.
“We try to support him as much as possible and every now and then he gets a little bit of extra time off to go and see the family. It’s always difficult but he has been a true professional, really.”
Adding to the emotional bandwidth, Brimmer’s wife Amelia is also set to give birth within in the next fortnight.
“My wife is due in that week, we play Adelaide [April 3],” said Brimmer. “It’s going to be very difficult to get back. But the baby will be born here, so I’m gonna have a Kiwi baby.”
Brimmer has only started eight matches this season – an adjustment given his past deeds, especially with Melbourne Victory, where he was a focal point – but accepts it is part of the sport.
“There’s no egos in the team,” says Brimmer. “Obviously we’re fighting for places and every footballer wants to start, but at the minute, my job is to come on and help the team as best as I can off the bench.”
Auckland FC’s in-game reinforcements have been a big part of the team’s success, with their enviable depth. Corica’s team are in good position – after Saturday’s pivotal 2-1 win in Newcastle – to pursue another Premier’s Plate and score top spot for the finals, as they trail the Jets by a solitary point.
“We have given ourselves a great chance,” admitted Corica.
It feels like they are finding their groove – at the right time – in the midst of a six-match unbeaten run. They’ll be heavy favourites against eighth-placed Macarthur, who have lost four on the bounce, conceding 12 goals across that period. But Corica also knows they could be desperate – and desperate to show the rot.
“[It’s dangerous] if we take them too lightly, which we don’t want to do,” he said.”
Jake Brimmer in the A League
Club Games Goals Assists
Melbourne Victory 98 15 19
Perth Glory 60 0 3
Auckland FC 41 3 3
Total 199 18 25
Michael Burgess has been a Sports Journalist for the New Zealand Herald since 2005, covering the Olympics, Fifa World Cups, and America’s Cup campaigns. He is a co-host of the Big League podcast.